Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-02-09
Stauntotl Spectalor.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1887.
Our Agriculture.

Our Agriculture.
The political economy which would
teach the abandonment of agriculture would
prove as fatal to the best interests Of our
country as it would be delusive and false
in the efficiency of the expedients, however
valuable they may be as separate indus
tries, that it would substitute fer the grain
crops of the United States, which after
furnishing suficiency in all time and for
any demand at home, will continue to sup
ply large exporting value. Agriculture,
manufacturing and commerce are properly
and always should be associated with our
progress but the day which circumscribes
the expansion and by legislation dwarfs
the Importance of the first, plants the seeds
of decay in the others which cannot grow
without the sustaining products of soil
culture. A chief difficulty in the way Of
the profitable export of our surplus, re-
suits from the neglect of providing an
American merchant-marine, thus giving
an indirect blow to every department OF
agriculture which produces a surplus, and
making positive obstruction to the en-
largement of the coastwise and foreign com
merce of the country. To admit the ex-
pediency of the theory adverted to. would
be to acknowledge sthe ineapacity of Our
government to cope with questions which
the powers of the Old World quickly dis
pose of for their own advantage, no matter
how often they are presented. Whilst
furnishing eight .tenths of the exporting
values of the country, and at the same time
the subsistence in the kinds produced, and
are capable of doing SO, no matter how
large the increase of consumption for our
entire population, agriculture has had to
stand alone and unaided, except in few
particulars, whilst the legislation, from the
establishment of the government and con-
tinously, has thrown its protection, and
properly SO, around other pursuits. 1t is
rot that too much has been done for the
others, but it is the neglect of the one, and
chief of all interests, that has awakened
the reflections of the farmers of the country
to the existing state of things which has
come as the legitimate consequence Of the
rule of the Republican party in the past.
The policy which has dwarfed into insig-
nifcance the power of the country to what
it would have been under the influences of
having its own merchant-marine carrying
its own outward and inward commerce,
has been milestone around our necks.-
The wonder is, that agriculture, which has
paid its billions of direct taxation and sus-
tanned the commerce OF the country to the
degree it has, could have so long held out.
The theory which teaches that we must
consume 81 our seil-preduction will de-
stre5 its own argument, unless it estab
fishes the fact that we, likewise, can fur
nish purchasing power for all the products
of the forests, the mines, and the manufsc-
tories. Its logical conclusion would sweep
away the ports Of the country and the cities
engaged ia commerce. It would destroy
every communication with the outer world,
from the cable lines and great steamers
down to the smallest agencies for directing
foreign Intercourse.
An equipped navy and protected ports
are necessary preparations to the establish
ment of q mercaant-marine, and this d.
lection has been taken by the Democratic
administration Of the government. To
that party the people must lock for The
completion of the initiative which precedes
the establishment Of a merchant MARINE
This, first, last, and all the time, the Re
publican party when in power utterly
neglected, and in doing SO failed to extend
TO our agriculture and commerce the justice
to which they are ;entitled. The Demo-
cratic policy will not only reinstate agri-
culture to the position of influence it is en-
titled to in the government, but will conduct
it on, developing and simplifying the pros
perity of the whole country, producing the
reverse of the monopoly and ring -legisla
ton of the opposite party which never did
care fig for agriculture. A political creed
which cares for nothing except for the pros
perity of the few, whilst millions are taxed
directly for their aggrandizement, would
willingly import bread-supples from India
for the labor Of onr country, if, thereby,
tie rival agriculture, could be con-
tinued inferior in power and influence. The
farmers, however, in the meantime, have
commenced to move, and it really seems
that something on the line they wish the
public interests managed will come to pass.
The Democratic party holds the fort, and
they are in sympathy with the movement
to promote agriculture as they are TO pre-
teet its products and tighten their burdens
as they go to supply foreign demand. The
development of all our resources is the
right sentiment, and not that which would
build up one to the neglect Of the Other
Essentla! to this is merchant-marine
bearing the American flag, and an equipped
navy to protect it on every sea, and both
worthy representatives OF our nationality
prohibition amendment to the constitution
of West Virginia, which passed the House
of Delegates several weeks since, came up
in the Senate last Friday.
The vote stood II for submission
against submission, and 2 absent. II re-
quires 8 votes to submit the question to
the vote of the people. The absent mem
bers are understood to be against submit
ting the amendment. 1t requires two
thirds vote TO pass
THE CAPTAIN OF SLooP DROWNED
Last Friday morning the sloop Milburn.
Capt. Eldridge Martray, of Norfolk city,
started out for Chuckatuck for cargo of
oysters. When betw cen Fort Norfolk and
Primers Point the mainmast broke in two,
and the upper part in falling struck Capt.
Martrsy. knocking him overheard It is
supposed that he was stunned by the blow,